As if there hasn't been enough development recently near 116th Street and I-69 in Fishers, this summer promises even more when construction of a dining, entertainment and residential project revs up.

The first restaurants at the The Yard are expected to open in the Spring of 2019. But because plans for the development have evolved since they were first announced, here are answers to some basic questions about where the project now stands.

I keep seeing drips and drabs of info about the Yard. What the heck is it, a playground? A prison? A ballpark?

None of the above. The Yard will be a $40 million dining district built at the site of a former subdivision on the south side of 116th Street at I-69. It is the latest development in a growing commercial area that includes a new Ikea, Portillo’s and Topgolf.

It's like an outdoor mall that's mostly restaurants, coffee shops, diners and, perhaps, food-related retail shops. The district will have up to 20 restaurants, many of them local. It will be landscaped with trees and shrubs and have a central green with a stage for outdoor concerts, wine tastings, art shows and gatherings.

Concept plan for the Yard in Fishers(Photo11: Supplied by TYhompson Thrift and city of Fishers.)

Wasn't there supposed to be a food incubator or something like that there?

Yes. Also known as a "culinary accelerator," it is still planned as a centerpiece of the project. The accelerator will be a shared dining hall — like City Market in Indianapolis — with a couple of common kitchens. In those kitchens up-and-coming chefs will rotate, trying out their food concept for months at a time, then moving on, possibly to open their own place. somewhere. So, one month you might be able to try a young chef's sushi creations and, two moths later, sample another cook's Indian cuisine.

Rendering of apartments and retail for the Yard in Fishers(Photo11: Supplied by Thompson Thrift and city of Fishers.)

Will the district be all food-related?

No. The concept has expanded since Mayor Scott Fadness first announced it in early 2017. It now includes a 255-unit apartment building with shops and restaurants on the first floor and a large hotel. The shops will be small boutiques, clothing and accessory stores. The developer, Thompson Thrift Retail Group, Terre Haute, predicts hotel guests and apartment dwellers will provide a steady flow of customers for the eateries.

Sounds ambitious, have restaurants signed up yet?

Yes, five, so far. Two restaurants by the owners of St. Elmo's are on board. Burger Study is an upscale hamburger restaurant, and 1933 Lounge, a prohibition-themed bar. Sun King will have a 13,000-foot brewery and Havana Lounge will build a 4,700-square-foot cigar and whiskey haunt. RAWkin Juice Bar has also announced it will move into The Yard.

Signs planned fro the Yard in Fishers.(Photo11: Thompson Thrift and the City of Fishers)

So what's it going to look like? Lay it out for me.

The primary entrance will be a "Main Street" heading straight south from 116th street and will be flanked on the east by the apartment complex and the west by Burger Study and another building with a coffee shop and a luncheonette. Beyond Burger Study will be a cluster of 10 restaurants and shops. After that, Main Street leads straight back to the green. On the east side of the green will be a building housing the culinary incubator and Sun King. On the west side will be the cigar bar. South of the green will be the hotel. Parking will be scattered across the development.

Why is Fishers doing this?

Fadness said the most frequent complaint he hears from residents is that there aren't enough diverse, local or upscale dining choices in Fishers. He said The Yard will give them several unique choices in one destination. But the retail rents are high in Fishers so it will be interesting to watch how many small independent restaurants will try to make a go of it there.

Call IndySTtr reporter John Tuohy at (317) 444-6418. Follow on facebook and Twitter.